Hit-and-run takes out pole, causes outage

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews had a largely uneventful week from May 23-29, responding to 226 calls ranging from a child accidentally locked inside a car to 192 emergency medical service calls.

Firefighters responded to a hit-and-run accident at Upriver Drive and Ely Road the evening of May 24 to help deal with downed power lines. A car had hit a power pole and sheared it off, leaving wires hanging, said assistant fire marshal Bill Clifford. “It kind of snarled up that area for a while,” he said.

Residents in the area lost power and crews stayed on scene until Avista arrived to fix the pole. Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies caught up with the fleeing driver at Pasadena Park Elementary School, Clifford said.

A fire caused about $15,000 in damage to a duplex in the 11200 block of East Alki Avenue at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The cause is undetermined but may have been an unattended candle left burning in the bathroom, Clifford said. The Red Cross is assisting the residents.

Nine car accidents and three illegal yard waste fires were reported during the week. Electrical fires in two homes caused minor damage.